Rococo was an aesthetic movement in the fine and decorative arts in the 18th century that found its inspiration in nature and fostered an overall lightness and delicacy of form, construction and ornament in interior design. Rococo furniture, while greatly influenced by trends in Italy and Germany, is often called Louis XV style — the movement having reached its best expression during that sybaritic French king’s reign.
The term “rococo” is thought to be a portmanteau of the French words rocaille and coquilles — “rock” and “shells” — organic motifs frequently used in architecture and design of the style.
When it comes to authentic Rococo furniture's characteristics, it is above all sensuous and social. The furniture of earlier eras in Europe had been heavy in every sense; the Rococo period saw the appearance of light-framed upholstered armchairs, side chairs and occasional tables that could easily be moved to form conversational circles.
The signal detail of Rococo furniture design is the gently curved cabriole, or S-shaped chair-, table-, and cabinet-leg. It imitates the bend of a tree limb or a flower stem. In a further reference to nature, furnishings were often asymmetrical and painted white, or in soft, pastel shades. Rococo has become a timeless style, and as the furniture pieces presented on 1stDibs demonstrate, its playful, sculptural forms can provide visual excitement to contemporary, clean-lined spaces.
Antique Maiolica Flower Pot by Pasquale Rubati, Milan, Circa 1770
Located in Milano, IT
Maiolica flower pot “a mezzaluna” decorated with tulip Pasquale Rubati Factory Milan, circa 1770. Measures: 4.7 in x 4.7 in x 8.6 in 12 cm x 12...
Maiolica
Italian Maiolica Flower Pot by Pasquale Rubati, Milan, Circa 1770
Located in Milano, IT
Maiolica flower pot “a mezzaluna” decorated with garlands of flowers Pasquale Rubati Factory Milan, circa 1770 Measures: 4.7 in x 5 in x 8.8 in ...
Maiolica
Gyratory III, a sand coloured ceramic rococo sculptural vessel by Jo Taylor
By Jo Taylor
Located in London, GB
'Gyratory III' is a unique ceramic sculptural vessel by the British artist, Jo Taylor. In the artist's own words: "Gyratory means moving in a circle or spiral, which relates to the...
Ceramic
$12,000Sale Price / item|57% Off
Sevres Style Grand Gilt Bronze Hand Painted Cobalt Blue Porcelain Urn
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is a huge bronze hand painted porcelain urn featuring a painting of The Birth And The Triumph of Venus after the painter Francois Boucher-1740. The oval painting is framed by gilt hand painted scrolls of acanthus leaves & branches of roses. The back of the urn has a golden crown with the monogram-LP-below it, that is surrounded by a frieze made of acanthus leaves and branches of roses (This represent the Royal Coat of Arms of the King Louis Philippe I...
Porcelain
Sevres Ormolu-Mounted Covered Vase of Cupid and Cherubs
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in New York, NY
Sevres Ormolu-Mounted Covered Vase of impressive size depicting cupid and two cherubs in a lush and colorful garden on both sides. The glazed painting applied bursts with bright and ...
Ormolu
Rococo Late 19th Century Pair Porcelain Vases Dresden Germany Hand-Painted
Located in Uppsala , SE
Cirka 1880 Dresden Germany Dresden porcelain refers to an artistic movement within porcelain making, rather than a specific manufacturer, and is associated with the city of Dresden,...
Porcelain
Blue Serves Pair of Jeweled Vases with Gilt Paint and Turquoise
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in New York, NY
Blue Serves Pair of Jeweled Vases with Gilt Paint and Turquoise embellishments throughout. Incredibly ornate with gold painted details throughout. Both vases contain genre scenes wi...
Gold, Bronze
Rococo Handmade and Hand Painted Flower Spray Vase, France 1880s
Located in Verviers, BE
with rococo panel and hand-painted flower spray in the oriental style (c 1880) Handmade and hand-glazed in brilliant coloured Emameld flowers details. ...
Glass
$550Sale Price / item|29% Off
Small 18th Century French Rococo Brass Planter Flower Pot
Located in Copenhagen, K
French Rococo Planter or Flower Pot in Brass, Circa 1780 Period French flower pot with beautiful large Rococo decorations.
Brass
Russian Silver and Glass Jardinière, Russia, 1895
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Russian silver and glass jardinière, Russia, 1895.
Silver
Sèvres Style Porcelain and Gilt Bronze Jardinière and Vase Garniture Suite
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in London, GB
Sèvres style porcelain and gilt bronze jardinière and vase garniture suite French, late 19th century Measures: Vases: height 72cm, width 36cm, depth 22cm Urn: height 53cm, width 5...
Ormolu
Antique Gilt Bronze Mounted Sèvres Porcelain Garniture
By Henri Picard, Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in London, GB
With its exquisite paintings of putti playing sports in Arcadian landscapes, this ‘bleu celeste’ garniture demonstrates the exceptional beauty and high-quality craftsmanship of Sevre...
Ormolu, Bronze
Exceptional and Unusual Pair of Porcelain Cerulean and Ormolu Urns
Located in New York, NY
Double sided porcelain urns with genre scenes and still life paintings on their reverse. The piece demonstrates the technical excellence of Sèvres porcelain, with delicate gold leaf in the form of foliage and garlands applied to the porcelain itself. The porcelain vases are beautifully decorated with gilt bronze (ormolu) mounts, containing expertly cast lion...
Porcelain
Rococo Porcelain White Flowers Herend Large Two Handled Vase Hand-painted 1950
By Herend
Located in Uppsala , SE
A Large Vintage Vase Herend Hungary 1950-1960 according to a mark Delicately hand-painted wit various beautiful flowers 2 handles have Baroque style shape and richly gilded Height...
Porcelain
Monumental Sèvres style ormolu mounted porcelain vase of the Four Seasons
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in London, GB
Monumental Sèvres style ormolu mounted porcelain vase of the Four Seasons French, c.1895 Height 152cm, diameter 45cm Set on a polychrome ground, dominated by a rare and fitting beige ground, which is accentuated and banded with strips in green, this beautiful and monumental porcelain vase...
Ormolu
Antique Neoclassical Sèvres Style Porcelain and Gilt Bronze Jardinière and Vases
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in London, GB
Antique neoclassical Sèvres style porcelain and gilt bronze jardinière and vases French, 19th century Measures: Jardinière height 47cm, width 49cm, depth 39cm Vases height 56cm, w...
Ormolu
Pair Sèvres Style Gilt & Pink Painted Porcelain Cache Pots
Located in New York, NY
Gorgeous pair of Pink Cache Pots with figural scenes on either side. The scenes depict merchants selling their wares to a nobleman at a market by the w...
Porcelain
Enamel and Crystal Six Part Jardinière, France, Late 19th Century
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Enamel and crystal six part jardinière, France, late 19th century.
Crystal, Enamel
Floral Painted Antique Glass Vase by Baccarat
By Baccarat
Located in London, GB
Floral painted antique glass vase by Baccarat. French, 19th century. Measures: height 45cm, diameter 18cm. By the exceptionally highly-regarded ...
Glass
Two Large Rococo Style Porcelain and Gilt Bronze Jugs
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in London, GB
These jugs (ewers) are magnificent works of decorative art which measure an impressive 1m (39 inches) in height. In their decoration, the jugs are clearly inspired by 18th century Ro...
Ormolu, Bronze
Holy Oils Vase or Container, Pewter, 18th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Santos Oils container. Pewter. Century XVIII. Container made of pewter that has a foot, a body with curves, two handles and a lid. Its exterior decoration shows a clear influence o...
Pewter
Sèvres Style Porcelain and Gilt Bronze Jardiniere and Vase Garniture
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in London, GB
This exquisite, three-piece garniture will make a wonderful addition to a mantelpiece, niche or table, where its fine design and craftsmanship can be properly enjoyed. The garnitur...
Ormolu, Bronze
Gilt Bronze Mounted Porcelain Vase in the Manner of Sèvres
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in London, GB
Gilt bronze mounted porcelain vase in the manner of Sèvres, French, late 19th Century Measures: Height 123cm, width 53cm, depth 42cm This large porcelain vase demonstrates the b...
Bronze, Ormolu
Antique Clock Garniture with Sèvres Style Porcelain and Ormolu
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in London, GB
This fantastic porcelain clock garniture contains three vases, one of which has been mounted with a ormolu clock dial with jewels surrounding it. The vases are decorated in the style of the Sèvres Porcelain manufacturers, with cartouches to the front and back. The panels on the front depict ladies and putti in a landscape, while the reverse sides depict riverbanks. The vases are set on ormolu bases with canted angles, and feature twin ormolu handles which take the form of masks. The central vase is surmounted by an ormolu putti...
Ormolu
Antique pair of gilt bronze and Sèvres style porcelain cachepot vases
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in London, GB
Antique pair of gilt bronze and Sèvres style porcelain cachepot vases French, 19th Century Height 24.5cm, width 17cm, depth 15cm...
Ormolu
Large Sèvres Style, Mounted and Gilt, Painted Porcelain Vase
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in London, GB
A large Sèvres style, mounted and gilt, painted porcelain vase French, Early 20th Century Height 132cm, diameter 37cm This exquisite piece is a beautiful Sèvres style porcelain ...
Ormolu
Baccarat Opaline Glass Lamp, Vase Formed with Floral Decoration
By Baccarat
Located in London, GB
A Baccarat opaline glass lamp, vase formed with floral decoration French, 19th century Measures: Lamp: height 74cm, diameter 19cm Shade: heig...
Brass
Antique Rococo Style Porcelain and Gilt Bronze Clock Garniture
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in London, GB
This fantastic clock garniture is a truly exceptional piece of design, which takes after the elegant beauty of the work of the Sevres porcelain Manufactory. Comprising a set of three...
Ormolu
Pair of Antique Porcelain Vase-Form Lamps with Floral Decoration
Located in London, GB
Pair of antique porcelain vase-form lamps with floral decoration Continental, 19th Century Lamps: height 57cm, width 18cm, depth 16cm Shades: height 22cm, diameter 39cm With twin handles and painted floral decoration, these fine porcelain lamps...
Brass
Ormolu-Mounted Rococo Style Antique Marble Urn
Located in London, GB
This exuberantly designed lidded urn is carved in veined green marble. The body of the urn is of canted ovoid shape and mounted with twin acanthus leaf ormolu handles. The body of th...
Marble, Ormolu
Pair Gilt Rococo Urns French Gilt Tureens Louis Rocaille
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Pair French gilt rococo urns in the Louis XVI manner Very opulent pair, just crying out to be the centrepiece to any interiors scheme So intricately cast with the rocaille details Ve...
Bronze
Fine Pair of Antique Austrian Enamel on Silver and Gold Jeweled Ewers
Located in New York, NY
A fine pair of antique Austrian enamel, silver and gold ewers. Each beautifully inset with chunks of semi precious stones. Including amethyst r...
English 19th Century Gilt Bronze Collection of Decorative Urns
Located in London, GB
A gilt bronze garniture de fireplace by Elkington and Company Conceived in the Rococo manner, the gilt bronze being excellently cast and planished, the suite consisting of a central two handled baluster form vase, two similar and smaller, and a pair of ewers, marked to the underside with the makers mark, circa 1850 Elkington and Company, formed by the brothers George and Henry, was founded in the 1830s, after perfecting their newly patented method of electro plating in gold and silver, for which their first patent was granted in 1840. They exhibited at the European and British 19th century Great Exhibitions, and were given permission by Queen Victoria in 1868 to copy the collection of Royal Plate...
Bronze